Means for repacking valves



July 26, 1927.

G. F. MERRILL MEANS FOR REPACKING VALVES Filed June 25 1926 t- {sin vgmzwto'c u m m H a. a W m h .e N Q M 0 g G W mm 4% cc 5 m w? i w MrPatented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES,

MEANS FOR REPACK I NG VALVES.

Application filed June 25,

This invention relates to improvements in valves and more particularlyto valves located in a valve box and to improved means and method ofrepacking such valves. 7

The principal object of the invention is lo provide means for repackinga valve located in a valve box when the valve is located at aconsiderable distance from the opening of the valve box without removingthe valve box.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means of removingthe parts of the valve to give access to the packing of the valvewithout the said parts dropping down in the valve box.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for guidingthe packing and packing gland to the packing seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forremoving the parts of the valve and the packing from a distance so thatthe parts will not only be separated from the valve but may be alsobrought to the opening of the valve box without being separated from theremoving means.

Another object of the invention is to provide removing means for theparts of the valve and the packing that may be used and operated withthe usual commercial forms of valves. Another object of the invention isto provide power means for removing from a distance parts of the valvethat may be tight, stuck or corroded on the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means on thevalve and valve box to facilitate removal from a distance and tofacilitate the entrance and removal of the packing and packing glandinto and from the packing seat in the valve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings and it will also be apparent that many changes in theconstruction, arrangement of parts and in the steps of the operation maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressedin the following claim. The preferred forms only of the invention havebeen shown and described by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings in which similar characters of referencedenote corresponding parts throughout:

seat;

1926. Serial No. 118,545.

PATENT FFl CEf f- Figure 1 is an elevation of a section of pipe showingthe valve and valve box lo.- cated beneath the ground;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through.

a portion of the valve and valve box;

Figure 3 1s a slmilar section to Figure 2 showing the means forconducting thepackgland to the packing seat of the means for removingthe retaining nuts on the valve stem;

Figure 5 1s a plan view of the packing Figure 6 is a crosssection online 6+6 of Figure 5.

Figure 1 shows the water pipe arrange.-'

ment of a hydrant, the numeral 1 designating the ground level. The valve2 is locatedin. abranch 3, and has the valve stem 1 extendingthereabove; The valve stem is surrounded by the valve box 5 whichtermi-- nates at the opening 6 at the ground level 1. The valve packing7 surrounds the'valve stem 41 and rests in the valve seat or recess 8 inthe valve seat member 9 which is bolted to the valve cover 10 by thebolts 11 and nuts 12. The packing gland 13 extends into the packingrecess 8 over the packing 7 being fitted over the valve stem 4; and heldin place by the bolts 11 and nuts 14.. The valve stem e extends abovethe gland 18 and bears a turning nut 15 having fiat sides .to engage asocket wrench.

sion 17 onthe stem 4 on which is placed the nut 18 to hold the turningnut 15 on the stem 4:. r

In practice the valve stem has been operated by a socket wrench fittingover the nut 15. This has been operated from the opening 6 in the valvebox 5, but it has been found that while the valve stem 4 can be operatedfrom the opening 6 to open and close the valve it was impossible toreplace the packing 7 in the packing seat 8 without removing the valvebox 5 anddigging out an access to the valve from above. This was alaborious, expensive and ditfioult op eration and it was found that thevalves had to be frequently repacked.

In the present invention I have provided an improved structure and animproved The nut 15 is non v rotatably mounted on the valve stem 4 bymeans of a square sided extension 16 onthe stem t. There is a screwthreaded-extenmethod of operation to repack the valves from the opening6 without removing the valve box.

In my improved device I first provide the nut 18 with an external groove19. I then provide a socket wrench 20, Figure 41, having a spring 21mounted in an opening 22 adapted to enter the groove 19 in the nut 18 tohold it in the socket of the wrench 20 and prevent its falling out. Ithen remove the nut 18 with the wrench 20 through the opening 6 in thevalve box 5. I next remove the turning nut 15 through the opening 6 bymeans of a lifter 23 having the gripping arms 2 1 pivoted to a holdernut 25, the arms 2 1 being in turn pivoted to a second set of arms 26 atthe points 27. The arms 26 are pivoted at 28 to the tubular sleeve 29having the handles 30. Through the sleeve 29 extends a threaded rod 31having a handle 32 and an enlarged end 23 resting on top of theextension 17 and screw threaded into the nut 25. In removing the nut 15the sleeve 29 is drawn upwardly towards the handle 32. This opens outthe arms 24-, as shown in dotted lines. The arms 24; are dropped downbelow the nut 15, after which the sleeve 29 is pushed down to close thejaws 2 1 under the nut. The sleeve 29 is held against rotation by thehandle 30 and the rod 31 is rotated by the handle 32 causing the nut 25to rise on the threaded part of the rod 29 carrying the arms 2 1with itto force the nut 15 off of the valve stem 1. The nuts 14: are thenremoved with the wrench 20 as in the case of the nut 18 and. the valvegland 13 is removed with the lifter 23 in the same way the nut 15 isremoved. The packing 7 is now exposed and may be removed with a hookedpicker. The valve is now ready for repacking. A rod or mandrel 3st isentered through the ooening 6 and rested on top of the extension 17 ofthe valve stem 1 and an annular packing ring 7, Figure 3, slippedon therod 3 1 and slid down into the recess 8 of the member 9. The gland 13 isnext slid down the rod 34: onto the valve stem 1, the nuts 14 put inplace on the bolts 11 and screwed up with the wrench 20, the nut 15 thenslipped down onto the valve stem 1 on a rod similar to the rod 3% butsmaller in diameter, and the nut 18 put in place on the extension 17 bythe wrench 20. To facilitate the entrance of thepacking 7 into therecess 8 a funnel shaped lip 35, Figure 6, is provided around the recess8. This also facilitates the entrance of the gland 13 into the packingrecess. r

The belt holes in the gland 13 and member 9 are countersunk to a taperin the un der side to facilitate the entrance of the bolt 11 into thebolt holes as these members are inserted in place.

From the foregoing description of structure and operation it will beseen that I have provided simple, inexpensive and efficient means forremoving and replacing the packing in the packing seat from the open ing6 of the valve box without disturbing the valve box and without removingthe same or digging down to the valve, and that all of the removed partsare brought to the surface without loss and the removed parts likewisereplaced by guiding and holding means that are simple and eiiicient.

It will also be seen that with my device and my improved method theusual conunerf eial valves may be repacked from the opening of the valvebox with slight alteration of parts and construction.

l Iaving described my invention, I claim:

The method of repacking a valve from a distance comprising removing theglands and holding nuts by means that loosen them and hold them fromdropping, placing a guide extension over the end of the valve stem, andsliding an annular packing teem-- ber and gland along the extension andvalve stem into the packing recess and replacing the nuts with meansthat will prevent their dropping while they are being inserted in place.

GEORGE F. MERRILL.

